GAS DETECTION & MONITORING
EQUIPMENT SAFETY
ADVICE PLEASE... So, we’re confidently testing the confined space before we enter, however, what advice is out there about testing the actual testing equipment? The International Safety Equipment Association recommends, at a minimum, verification of sensor accuracy (a ‘bump test’) before use every day; however, there is currently no legal requirement to do this. Whilst gas detectors are robust and designed for rigorous use, they are still complex pieces of equipment that rely upon intricate instruments to give those potentially lifesaving readings.
The ‘bump test’, defined by OSHA as ‘a qualitative function check in which a challenge gas is passed over the sensor(s) at a concentration and exposure time sufficient to activate all alarm settings’, is the only way you can be certain that equipment is working optimally and it is strongly recommended that this be conducted before every use. Short exposure to a gas which is at a higher concentration than the detector’s alarm set points applied during the bump test will confirm that the device is working properly.
A more comprehensive calibration should also be conducted according to the specific manufacturer’s guidance as this will depend on the type of work and exposure to toxic gases the instrument is exposed to.
EDUCATION,
EDUCATION, EDUCATION Sadly, many workers are still unsure about how often to bump-test and calibrate their gas detectors. This misunderstanding can result in best practices being ignored or testing being avoided entirely. To ensure that workers are confident about why and how to test their equipment, regular training is essential.
Regular training is also important to ensure that workers understand why they need to use this equipment and remind them of the hazardous environment in which they operate. It is all too easy to become complacent when working in the same conditions every day, however, it is important that workers are constantly alert to any potentially new hazards they could face.
www.tomorrowshs.com
Greater education and understanding combined with the ability to map out and preempt the hazards represented by every confined space on your site will enable a single person to confidently and safely pre-plan the work of entire teams working within a site’s confined spaces. This high-level view and the ability to access it anytime, anywhere is the future of confined space best practice and ultimately, will help to ensure that every worker goes home safe every day.
www.hse.gov.uk/confinedspace
DID YOU KNOW…..?
• Breathing as little as one or two breaths of air containing too little oxygen can have serious and immediate effects, including unconsciousness.
• It takes just 30 seconds to fall into a coma if breathing in air containing only 5% to 6% oxygen.
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